Minimally invasive repair of pectus excavatum (MIRPE) in adults: is it a proper choice?

Abstract

Introduction: The Nuss procedure is suitable for prepubertal and early pubertal patients but can also be used in adult patients. Aim: To determine whether the minimally invasive technique (MIRPE) can also be performed successfully in adults. Material and methods: Between July 2006 and January 2016, 836 patients (744 male, 92 female) underwent correction of pectus excavatum with the MIRPE technique at our institution. The mean age was 16.8 years (2–45 years). There were 236 adult patients (28.2%) (> 18 years) – 20 female, 216 male. The mean age among the adult patients was 23.2 years (18–45 years). The recorded data included length of hospital stay, postoperative complications, number of bars used, duration of the surgical procedure and signs of pneumothorax on the postoperative chest X-ray.